Thursday, February 23, 2012

Hal Willner's Kaddish

Tonight is the world-premiere of the Hal Willner-produced "Allen Ginsberg's Kaddish (for Naomi Ginsberg (1894-1956)"), commissioned by the Park Avenue Armory in New York and featuring a score by Grammy Award-winning jazz guitarist Bill Frisell, (a) visual design by "Gonzo" artist Ralph Steadman, and the unique idiosyncratic "conceptual energy" of Willner. It's part of the on-going "Tune-In Music Festival" for Philip Glass. "Philip Glass' affinity, reverence and collaborations with the great Allen Ginsberg", the organizers note, "make for a deeply personal achievement for this work..".

Tomorrow, Patti Smith and her band join Glass for "The Poet Speaks", "performing music and readings celebrating their favorite poets, including Ginsberg and William Blake.."